A penalty to Olly Barkley six minutes from time gave Bath a dramatic 21-20 victory over Northampton on Tuesday night, their second win in three days and one that took them to within two points of fourth-placed Wasps.

Northampton were left to rue missing a golden chance to go top of the Guinness Premiership, spoiled when Neil Best was sin-binned to allow Barkley's decisive kick and hamper the Saints' last-ditch efforts to regain the lead.

Bath's new millionaire owner Bruce Craig has now seen a second victory in three days as his side extended their hot streak to just one loss in ten league games. Tries in each half by England internationals Lee Mears and Matt Banahan underpinned Bath's tense success, putting them within reach of Wasps, who they meet at Twickenham on Saturday.

Centre Barkley added 11 points from the boot to quell a much-changed Saints side, although Northampton stayed in touch through five Shane Geraghty penalties and a Paul Diggin try. The only consolation for Saints was a losing bonus point that left them just behind Premiership leaders Leicester, and victory over Saracens on Saturday will guarantee a home semi-final.

The closing seconds provided a frantic climax as Saints threw everything at their opponents, yet Bath kept their composure when it mattered to secure another vital victory.

Northampton made 12 switches ahead of that Franklin's Gardens clash. Only centre Jon Clarke, wing Bruce Reihana and lock Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe remained following a 38-23 victory over Gloucester weekend, but Bath went with 10 of the side that brushed aside Sale Sharks.

One of Bath's switches was at fly-half though, where an ankle injury sidelined the influential Butch James and meant a rare recent first team start for Nicky Little.

Barkley and Geraghty exchanged penalties inside the opening seven minutes as both sides sparred for territory, but Bath then saw Little sin-binned following a reckless high tackle on Diggin. Referee J P Doyle had no option other than to show the Fijian a yellow card. Geraghty though, botched a simple penalty chance as Little trudged off, sending his kick wide.

It was a let-off for Bath, yet they were punished nine minutes later with Little waiting to return as Northampton went through the phases and created a well-worked try for Diggin. Although Geraghty missed the touchline conversion attempt, Bath had been served notice - a dozen changes or not - that Saints meant business.

It was a ferociously intense contest, with scoring opportunities at a premium, but Barkley cut the deficit through his second penalty after Geraghty high-tackled home full-back Nick Abendanon. Barkley missed a more straightforward penalty attempt four minutes later, and as hard as they tried, Bath could not find a way through Northampton's defence.

That was until Saints offered them some assistance by mentally switching off on the stroke of half-time. Hooker Brett Sharman overthrew a lineout that almost led to a Bath score, and when he repeated his inaccuracy barely 60 seconds later, Saints suffered on the scoreboard. Flanker Julian Salvi pilfered possession from Northampton lock James Cannon, and Mears was driven over by his fellow forwards to give Bath an 11-8 interval advantage.

A Geraghty penalty brought Saints level early in the second period, but Bath began to assert dominance up front, notably at scrum time. They were awarded two penalties and a free-kick in quick succession, yet Saints somehow absorbed pressure from six consecutive scrums and cleared the danger.

Northampton boss Jim Mallinder had seen enough of the scrum troubles though, and he sent on international props Soane Tonga'uiha and Euan Murray in an attempt to keep Bath at bay. But before either player could get their boots dirty, Bath struck courtesy of a simple close-range move than ended with Banahan powering over.

Barkley added the extras, only for two more Geraghty penalties during a four-minute spell to revive the possibility of an away win. Geraghty's fifth successful strike then inched Saints ahead, and with the rampaging Tonga'uiha making his presence felt in open play, Northampton were revitalised.

But Best then collected a yellow card, Barkley slotted the resulting penalty and 14-man Saints could not climb back off the canvas as Geraghty rifled a drop-goal attempt agonisingly wide.